PETER HOUSTON isn't the only person set to leave Tannadice who is determined to continue Dundee United's five-season stay in the top six of the Scottish Premier League says skipper Jon Daly.

JON DALY knows Peter Houston won’t be the only man to walk out on Dundee United this summer.

So the Irishman reckons securing another top-six finish would mean much more than just putting the finishing touches to his manager’s CV before he goes job hunting in England.

It would also be a fitting goodbye present from the players who leave for pastures new – and a chance for the ones who stay to stake their claim for a place in the new manager’s regime.

Striker Daly is one of a handful of key players – including Willo Flood, Johnny Russell, Barry Douglas and Gavin Gunning – nearing the end of their contracts and with cuts looming it looks certain some if not all will move on.

Those players are just as proud as their manager when they survey a record of five consecutive top-six finishes, the last three of which saw them secure a Euro slot. And they are determined not to blot that proud run to ensure those who do leave can walk away with their heads held high.

Daly said: “It’s not just the manager who has a good record. It’s the players who have been here as well. We want to end on a positive note for him and keep our record intact.

“Even for the lads who are going to be here next year there are people who are going to be watching them.

“I don’t think we can just sit back. There are going to be future managers out there watching the lads.”

As for his own contract situation, Daly hit back at rumours he has repeatedly rejected offers from the club.

The 30-year-old added: “I got offered a year’s extension at the start of the season and thought I would just hold fire.

“That’s where we are right now, my decision hasn’t changed.

“I’ve heard a lot of rumours about me knocking back contract offers but that’s not true. It’s not as though I’ve been having negotiations back and forth with me asking for silly money.

“I know the club don’t have it and I’ve never asked for more money in contract negotiations before.

“I always accepted the offer in the past because I realise the club are where they are. I just turned 30 so I want to take my time to come to a decision.

“I don’t want to sign a year’s extension then find out I could have got three or four times my pay elsewhere.”

Skipper Daly was the first player Houston told about his intention to go at the end of the season. And it was on his advice that Houston gathered the rest of his troops to break the news before it was officially announced at a press conference.

Now that it’s out in the open the party line from within Tannadice is it’s business as usual – starting with today’s SPL clash at Kilmarnock.

But the uncertainties ahead are bound to prey on the minds of supporters and a media who will closely monitor the search for Houston’s replacement.

As far as Daly is concerned, though, the players’ minds will not wander.

He added: “Everyone is focused on getting back to winning ways at Killie.

“We want to climb the table and so does the gaffer. There had been speculation before the announcement so I had a chat with the boss and he thought it was best he told the lads before making it public.

“The announcement puts a bit of doubt around who’s going to come in but that’s to worry about when the time comes.

“We just need to concentrate on the next few months.

“So far this season we’ve not managed to get the results we thought we should have done but we can’t afford to feel sorry for ourselves.